NFL Draft: Ranking the Best and Worst Teams at Picking Players

Teams have shown over the past five years that Super Bowls are often won in April.

Will Laws | Apr 11, 2024

The 49ers have excelled at finding stars such as Purdy and Samuel early and late in the NFL draft. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowls aren’t won in free agency. They’re also seldom won with trades.

In the NFL, Lombardi trophies are won in the draft.

Throughout the league’s history, the best teams have always been built with young talent coming through the collegiate pipeline. The Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s are the last team that ever won a title solely with homegrown players, but dynasties such as the ‘80s San Francisco 49ers, ‘90s Dallas Cowboys, 2000s New England Patriots and ‘20s Kansas City Chiefs have all followed the same course to an extent.

In 2023, in an effort to quantify how draft success ties into a team’s success, Sports Illustrated looked at the previous five draft classes and awarded teams points based on a variety of factors. We used the same factors and scale this year, which you can see below:

Points System

Each first-team All-Pro season: 5 points
Each second-team All-Pro season: 3 points
Each season as primary starter (per PFR: 1 point)
Each regular-season win: 1 point
Each wild-card win or bye week: 2 points
Each divisional round win: 3 points
Each conference title: 4 points
Each Super Bowl victory: 5 points

NOTE: For the points to count, the player in question must have been drafted by the team, and remain on the roster. If they’ve moved on, no points are awarded. Finally, starting seasons require at least nine games started in that season, per Pro Football Reference.

1) Kansas City Chiefs
Last year’s ranking: 1
152 total points, 33 draft points

Starting seasons: 22
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 2
Regular-season wins: 63
Wild-card wins or bye: 5
Divisional wins: 5
Conference titles: 4
Super Bowl wins: 3

Best picks: C Creed Humphrey, LB Nick Bolton, CB Trent McDuffie

Kansas City has done a nice job drafting in recent years, but its score is largely driven by immense team success. The main reason has been prolonged draft vision, landing Travis Kelce (2013), Chris Jones (2016) and Patrick Mahomes (2017) in past years, along with bringing in quality free agents.

2) San Francisco 49ers
Last year’s ranking: 3
128 total points, 51 draft points

Starting seasons: 33
First-team All-Pro: 3
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 54
Wild-card wins or bye: 3
Divisional wins: 3
Conference titles: 2
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Brock Purdy, WR Brandon Aiyuk, DE Nick Bosa

San Francisco has hoarded top talent such as Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. Then there’s the ultimate value in selecting Brock Purdy with the Mr. Irrelevant slot. The Niners 49ers haven't won the Super Bowl under Kyle Shanahan yet, but they’re doing everything right (save for the Trey Lance selection).

Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, center, sacks Commanders QB Sam Howell.

Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, center, has racked up 40.5 sacks over the last three seasons, the fourth-most in the NFL over that span. / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

3) Dallas Cowboys
Last year’s ranking: 4
104 total points, 52 draft points

Starting seasons: 18
First-team All-Pro: 5
Second-team All-Pro: 3
Regular-season wins: 50
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DE Micah Parsons, WR CeeDee Lamb, CB Daron Bland

Dallas is often a national punching bag for Jerry Jones’s commentary and lack of playoff success. Yet, the Cowboys have found great players throughout the years, led by Lamb, Parsons, Bland and Trevon Diggs. All that’s missing is winning in January, which has eluded Dallas for almost 30 years.

4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last year’s ranking: 5
104 total points, 38 draft points

Starting seasons: 25
First-team All-Pro: 2
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 48
Wild-card wins or bye: 3
Divisional wins: 1
Conference titles: 1
Super Bowl wins: 1

Best picks: LT Tristan Wirfs, CB Jamel Dean, S Antoine Winfield Jr.

The Buccaneers are certainly benefiting from their 2020 Super Bowl run, but this is quietly one of the most well-run organizations in the league. General manager Jason Licht has hit on multiple picks, while also finding value in free agency with quarterback Baker Mayfield. The result is a top-five finish on our list.

5) Green Bay Packers
Last year’s ranking: 6
99 total points, 29 draft points

Starting seasons: 29
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 56
Wild-card wins or bye: 4
Divisional wins: 2
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Jordan Love, WR Christian Watson, OLB Rashan Gary

Green Bay looked to be entering a minor rebuild after trading Aaron Rodgers to the Jets, but that’s not been the case. The Packers have restocked their roster with Love, a bevy of young pass catchers and a litany of first-round defenders. Coached by Matt LaFleur, few teams have a brighter future than Green Bay.

6) Buffalo Bills
Last year’s ranking: 7
89 total points, 20 draft points

Starting seasons: 20
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 58
Wild-card wins or bye: 4
Divisional wins: 1
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: TE Dalton Kincaid, RB James Cook, DT Ed Oliver

Buffalo hasn’t been great at drafting and developing talent in recent years, but that might have changed in 2023. The Bills landed a pair of budding stars in Kincaid and O'Cyrus Torrence, who should partner with Khalil Shakir, James Cook and Terrel Bernard to form a nice nucleus around Josh Allen. That said, Buffalo needs to find a couple of playmakers on defense, particularly a pass rusher.

7) Baltimore Ravens
Last year’s ranking: 8
85 total points, 20 draft points

Starting seasons: 15
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 56
Wild-card wins or bye: 3
Divisional wins: 1
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DT Justin Madubuike, S Kyle Hamilton, C Tyler Linderbaum

Baltimore might have the best scouting operations in football under GM Eric DeCosta. No team scouts better than the Ravens, who have added premium talent in recent years. If the Ravens can enjoy a bit more playoff glory, they’ll keep moving up the board.

8) Cincinnati Bengals
Last year’s ranking: 13
84 total points, 33 draft points

Starting seasons: 30
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 37
Wild-card wins or bye: 2
Divisional wins: 2
Conference titles: 1
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins

This score is driven by a nice combination of team and draft success. Cincinnati found an entire offensive core in two years with the additions of Higgins, Burrow and Chase. GM Duke Tobin also did a nice job selecting linebackers Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson. In 2024, it’s Super Bowl or bust.

Nacua, a fifth-round pick, broke the NFL rookie records for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486). / David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

9) Los Angeles Rams
Last year’s ranking: 10
82 total points, 20 draft points

Starting seasons: 14
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 2
Regular-season wins: 46
Wild-card wins or bye: 2
Divisional wins: 1
Conference titles: 1
Super Bowl wins: 1

Best picks: WR Puka Nacua, RB Kyren Williams, DT Kobie Turner

The Rams may mock the draft, but they’re certainly adept at finding talent in it. Their past class was one of the league’s best, and it helped propel Los Angeles to a wild-card berth. This year, the Rams have their first-round choice for the first time since 2016, giving GM Les Snead ammunition to make a big splash.

10) Minnesota Vikings
Last year’s ranking: 12
77 total points, 30 draft points

Starting seasons: 19
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 2
Regular-season wins: 45
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: LT Christian Darrisaw, WR Justin Jefferson, WR Jordan Addison

Minnesota has done well in the draft across recent years, specifically at the wideout spot. The Vikings now hold two first-round choices in 2024 (Nos. 11, 24) and could package them to find a replacement for Kirk Cousins, who left for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. If Minnesota does that, it’s in prime position for a playoff push.

11) Tennessee Titans
Last year’s ranking: 17
71 total points, 21 draft points

Starting seasons: 15
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 2
Regular-season wins: 45
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 1
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DT Jeffery Simmons, CB Roger McCreary, WR Treylon Burks

This is a huge draft for GM Ran Carthon. He needs to continue building up his core after revamping the roster in 2023. For Tennessee, it must find a star with the No. 7 pick and then hope Will Levis is indeed the future under center. If those two things happen, the Titans will make their move.

12) Philadelphia Eagles
Last year’s ranking: 15
71 total points, 15 draft points

Starting seasons: 12
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 47
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 1
Conference titles: 1
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR DeVonta Smith, QB Jalen Hurts, DT Jalen Carter

Philadelphia has one of the league’s best GMs in Howie Roseman, and that’s evident in his drafts. The Eagles have found quality on both sides of the ball, ranging from Carter and Hurts to Smith and Landon Dickerson. That said, the secondary and linebacking corps need help.

13) Detroit Lions
Last year’s ranking: 30
70 total points, 33 draft points

Starting seasons: 20
First-team All-Pro: 2
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 32
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 1
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: OT Penei Sewell, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DE Aidan Hutchinson

Detroit saw the biggest jump of any team on our list, moving up 17 spots. This isn’t surprising considering the turnaround the franchise has enjoyed under coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes. The Lions also had a wonderful draft in 2023, landing Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Sam LaPorta and Jack Campbell, one year after drafting Hutchinson with the No. 2 pick.

14) New Orleans Saints
Last year’s ranking: 16
70 total points, 18 draft points

Starting seasons: 18
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 50
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: OL Cesar Ruiz, OL Erik McCoy, WR Chris Olave

The Saints find themselves toward the middle, and that’s largely because GM Mickey Loomis keeps mortgaging the future in hopes of winning now. The problem? New Orleans isn’t doing enough winning, and it never drafts high enough to change course and become a true contender.

15) Indianapolis Colts
Last year’s ranking: 2
69 total points, 29 draft points

Starting seasons: 24
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 40
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Michael Pittman Jr., WR Josh Downs

Indianapolis was very high on our list last year, checking in second. However, with Quenton Nelson and Shaq Leonard no longer helping the cause, the Colts slid down the list. That said, if Anthony Richardson pans out and stays healthy, Shane Steichen’s club could be rising once more.

Lawrence, a No. 17 pick, has been named a second-team All-Pro for two years running. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

16) New York Giants
Last year’s ranking: 23
67 total points, 36 draft points

Starting seasons: 27
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 3
Regular-season wins: 29
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: OT Andrew Thomas, DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, DT Dexter Lawrence

Despite a lack of on-field success, the Giants haven’t been bad on draft night. New York has a slew of talented defenders to be proud of including Thibodeaux, Lawrence and Deonte Banks. The problem has been the offensive side, where outside of Thomas, New York has failed to build.

17) Atlanta Falcons
Last year’s ranking: 22
67 total points, 35 draft points

Starting seasons: 26
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 3
Regular-season wins: 32
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: G Chris Lindstrom, CB A.J. Terrell, WR Drake London

The Falcons have done a nice job drafting under general manager Terry Fontenot. Now comes the hard part of ascending while continuing to find value in the latter rounds. If Fontenot can do so, Atlanta has a chance to become the NFC South’s best team with Kirk Cousins at the helm.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers
Last year’s ranking: 19
67 total points, 19 draft points

Starting seasons: 19
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 48
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR George Pickens, OLB Alex Highsmith, RB Najee Harris

Pittsburgh has a long-standing reputation for being one of the best-run organizations in the NFL. And while that’s still valid, the Steelers have to start drafting better. They’ve had too many first-round misses (Kenny Pickett and Devin Bush), leaving them vulnerable to scrambling in free agency.

19) Seattle Seahawks
Last year’s ranking: 14
67 total points, 17 draft points

Starting seasons: 14
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 48
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR DK Metcalf, CB Devon Witherspoon, CB Riq Woolen

The Seahawks have a bizarre draft history over the past five years. GM John Schneider is excellent, but his record includes bad first-round busts such as L.J. Collier, though he also has great finds like Metcalf and Woolen. Ultimately, Seattle eventually needs to find a franchise quarterback to elevate everyone.

20) Las Vegas Raiders
Last year’s ranking: 21
65 total points, 26 draft points

Starting seasons: 18
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 39
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DE Maxx Crosby, OL Dylan Parham, TE Michael Mayer

The Crosby pick was amazing. Everything else? Not so much. The Raiders have to find a quarterback, and then start building around him in earnest. Las Vegas has a wake of regrettable early round decisions behind it, a list that includes Damon Arnette, Henry Ruggs III, Johnathan Abram and Alex Leatherwood. Not ideal.

Gardner, a first-team All-Pro in both of his seasons, has more than lived up to his billing as a No. 4 pick. / Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com /

21) New York Jets
Last year’s ranking: 27
62 total points, 35 draft points

Starting seasons: 20
First-team All-Pro: 3
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 27
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Sauce Gardner, RB Breece Hall, DT Quinnen Williams

New York has found some of the best gems of the past five years, including a two-time first-team All-Pro in Gardner, along with Williams. However, the miss on Zach Wilson was extremely costly, while failing to find much value down the board also hurt. The Jets can’t afford to whiff with the No. 10 pick this year.

22) Los Angeles Chargers
Last year’s ranking: 18
61 total points, 25 draft points

Starting seasons: 19
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 2
Regular-season wins: 36
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Justin Herbert, LT Rashawn Slater, CB Asante Samuel Jr.

The Chargers are moving forward with a new front office and coaching staff, and those changes were long overdue. While Herbert is awesome, the rest of the roster is not. Los Angeles has a few young stars around Herbert in Samuel and Slater, but the Chargers have failed to find talent in later rounds consistently.

23) New England Patriots
Last year’s ranking: 9
61 total points, 19 draft points

Starting seasons: 14
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 41
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: S Kyle Duggar, CB Christian Gonzalez, DL Christian Barmore

The Patriots tumbled down our list, largely because their last Super Bowl victory finally fell off the books. New England struggled mightily to draft under coach Bill Belichick, something new GM Eliot Wolf must turn around. He gets an early chance to make a huge impact with the No. 3 pick this year.

24) Miami Dolphins
Last year’s ranking: 11
61 total points, 17 draft points

Starting seasons: 17
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 44
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR Jaylen Waddle, QB Tua Tagovailoa, S Jevon Holland

Miami had some great drafts in recent years, especially the 2021 haul featuring Waddle, Holland and Jaelan Phillips. However, the past two classes have netted just eight players, and only De’Von Achane has shown himself to be a big piece moving forward.

25) Cleveland Browns
Last year’s ranking: 20
59 total points, 14 draft points

Starting seasons: 14
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 43
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Greg Newsome II, LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, CB Martin Emerson

Cleveland has been without draft picks for years after trading for Deshaun Watson, which is trending toward the worst trade in NFL history. The Browns have found a few key contributors on defense, but the offense has largely been built through trades and older draft choices.

26) Washington Commanders
Last year’s ranking: 24
56 total points, 27 draft points

Starting seasons: 22
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 29
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: WR Terry McLaurin, RB Brian Robinson Jr., WR Jahan Dotson

Washington hasn’t been a contender since the Bill Clinton administration, and the issues are myriad. The Commanders have a new day at hand with GM Adam Peters and the No. 2 pick, which is likely going to be either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels at quarterback.

Johnson is the only All-Pro the Bears have drafted over the past five years. / Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

27) Chicago Bears
Last year’s ranking: 25
56 total points, 24 draft points

Starting seasons: 21
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 32
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: S Jaquan Brisker, RT Darnell Wright, CB Jaylon Johnson

Chicago has struggled to get off the ground in recent seasons due to a lack of premium quarterback play and little supporting cast around the position. However, that should change this year with two top-10 picks, including the first choice which will be USC’s Caleb Williams. In short, the Bears should be rolling soon enough.

28) Denver Broncos
Last year’s ranking: 26
53 total points, 21 draft points

Starting seasons: 13
First-team All-Pro: 1
Second-team All-Pro: 1
Regular-season wins: 32
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: CB Patrick Surtain II, RB Javontae Williams, WR Marvin Mims

Denver has arguably the worst draft record of any team over the past five years. Some of this is the result of poor work by the front office on draft weekend. And some of it is trading a boatload of picks for Russell Wilson. Regardless, the Broncos are in a terrible position, and now need to completely rebuild.

29) Houston Texans
Last year’s ranking: 29
52 total points, 17 draft points

Starting seasons: 17
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 31
Wild-card wins or bye: 2
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB C.J. Stroud, WR Nico Collins, OLB Will Anderson Jr.

The Texans’ score was dragged down significantly by the four years prior to last season, but with Stroud and DeMeco Ryans running things, they’ll be ascending quickly. Houston is positioned as an AFC contender, and the 2023 draft is a massive reason why.

30) Jacksonville Jaguars
Last year’s ranking: 32
51 total points, 21 draft points

Starting seasons: 21
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 28
Wild-card wins or bye: 1
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Trevor Lawrence, OLB Josh Allen, DE Travon Walker

Jacksonville isn’t drafting well enough to support Lawrence. While the selections of Allen and Travis Etienne have obviously worked out, the lack of star power in other areas have hurt. GM Trent Baalke has also been scattershot in free agency, hindering Jacksonville’s ability to garner points through wins.

31) Carolina Panthers
Last year’s ranking: 28
38 total points, 14 draft points

Starting seasons: 14
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 24
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: DT Derrick Brown, CB Jaycee Horn, WR Terrace Marshall Jr.

Let’s be honest. If Bryce Young doesn’t take a massive step forward and the Panthers don’t get better stewardship from owner David Pepper, nothing else in the near future matters. Carolina has also done a poor job of retaining its best draft picks, including Brian Burns, who was traded for second- and fifth-round picks.

32) Arizona Cardinals
Last year’s ranking: 31
38 total points, 10 draft points

Starting seasons: 6
First-team All-Pro: 0
Second-team All-Pro: 0
Regular-season wins: 32
Wild-card wins or bye: 0
Divisional wins: 0
Conference titles: 0
Super Bowl wins: 0

Best picks: QB Kyler Murray, TE Trey McBride, WR Michael Wilson

Arizona has fallen off a proverbial cliff in recent years because of failed decisions across the board, including with the coaching staff and front office. The Cardinals have landed a few nice players over the past five seasons in McBride, Wilson and Paris Johnson Jr., but that’s far from enough. Arizona is headed in the right direction with GM Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon, who are well-positioned with the No. 4 pick in the draft.

Published Apr 11, 2024|Modified Apr 11, 2024

WILL LAWS

Will Laws is a programming editor who frequently writes about baseball for Sports Illustrated. He has covered MLB since 2014 and, prior to joining the SI staff in February 2020, previously worked for Yahoo, Graphiq, MLB.com and the Raleigh News & Observer. His work also has appeared on Yahoo Sports, NBA.com and AOL. Laws has a bachelor's in print and digital journalism from the University of Southern California.